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Description
- 2023 Varney Wines Entrada GMT
- 2024 Varney Wines Mencia
- 2022 Varney Wines GSM
- 2023 Varney Wines Shiraz
- 2024 Varney Wines Limited Release Grenache
2023 Varney Wines Entrada GMT
This is a great value, juicy Grenache-based blend inspired by winemaker Alan Varney's time in Portugal. This loveable, approachable red from McLaren Vale combines Grenache, Mourvèdre, and Touriga Nacional for a fresh, drink-now style.
Grenache from 60+ year-old bush vines in Blewitt Springs and Seaview offers juicy red fruits. Mourvèdre from 20-year-old vines in White’s Valley adds structure and tannins, while Touriga Nacional from Seaview provides a bright floral lift. Crafted with early-picked grapes, partial whole-bunch fermentation, and short maturation in French barriques, this wine is made for immediate drinking pleasure.
Perfect with mild curries or roasted meats, the Entrada GMT is the product of Alan's skill and relationships with local growers, delivering top-quality fruit and a deliciously drinkable wine. We loved this delicious open-knit, super versatile red. It's a little taste of McLaren Vale with a Portuguese twist.
93 points
"Splash it around, but it’s got serious credentials at table, too."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)
2024 Varney Wines Mencia
Mencia hasn't quite taken over McLaren Vale the way Touriga or Nero d'Avola have, but if Alan Varney keeps making wines like this, it might just catch up.
What started as an experimental release back in 2020 has now graduated to the main lineup, and for good reason. Sourced from Oliver's Taranga in the Seaview sub-region, this 2024 release shows exactly why this Spanish native has such a solid future in the Vale.
Alan keeps the winemaking pretty simple - just nine days on skins and a short spell in Burgundy barrels. It’s definitely on the fresher side of things. You get a bright, medium-bodied red that balances juicy red fruit with some really interesting exotic spice and gamey aromatics. It’s a mid-weight red, with tannins that are super approachable.
It's drinking great straight away but has the balance to keep for another three to five years if you want to see where it goes.
95 points
"Such a characterful wine, with the making teasing out layers in the fruit, rather than layering inputs in. Thoughtful. Individual. Delicious."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)
2022 Varney Wines GSM
This is the quintessential McLaren Vale GSM.
It's a classic case of right varieties grown in the right place. Alan Varney knows how to put these blends together in just the right way thanks to years of experience making wine in South Australia.
He's nailed this wine. The rosy red fruits of the bush vine Grenache coupled with the sweet dark fruits of the Shiraz and the savouriness of the Mataro, it's a winning combination.
95 points
"I cited this as the finest GSM in Australia a number of years ago. While subsequent vintages have been good without being stellar, this is a proud return to form."
- Ned Goodwin MW
2023 Varney Wines Shiraz
Alan Varney has a real knack for finding the sweet spot between McLaren Vale’s power and elegance. Previously a blend of Hills fruit and fruit from McLaren Vale, this year, it's just the Vale with an emphasis on regional freshness.
About a third of the fruit went in as whole berries, which gives the wine a bright, spicy lift that cuts right through the deeper, plummy notes. It spent up to 30 days on skins to build some proper structure and then tucked away in French oak for nine months. The result is exactly what you want from premium SA Shiraz - plush, silky, and loaded with dark fruit, but with enough freshness to keep you coming back for a second glass.
As Halliday famously noted, Alan’s strength is making wines that feel effortless. This is a polished, safe bet red that punches well above its weight.
96 points
McLaren Vale Wine Show
93 points
" It's in the higher realms of medium weight but no more, and with distinct composure. This is fine value, characterful and delicious."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)
2024 Varney Wines Limited Release Grenache
Alan Varney is quickly becoming a name you can’t ignore in the McLaren Vale Grenache conversation, and this Limited Release is his best example of why. It’s a blend of 70-year-old bush vines, pulling fruit from three heavy-hitting sub-regions: Blewitt Springs for that sandy, tilled-earth aromatic lift; Seaview for a racy acid backbone; and Whites Valley for the deep, structural core that holds it all together.
The 2024 vintage follows a similar blueprint to the highly-acclaimed 2023, focusing on freshness and structure over jammy fruit weight. Alan uses a mix of cold soaking and partial whole-bunch fermentation (staying on skins for up to 22nd days) to build layers of cherry, pomegranate, and subtle spice. Nine months in seasoned French oak ensures the wood stays in the background, allowing the juicy red fruit to take centre stage.
This is a lively, textured Grenache that perfectly balances energy with old-vine depth. It’s got enough fine-grained tannin to handle slow-braised lamb or earthy charcuterie, and while it’s absolutely singing right now, it has the pedigree to evolve beautifully in the cellar for the next ten years.
96 points
"This is perhaps the finest grenache I have tasted from this address, the three district parcels making up an effortlessly complex whole. Superb."
- Marcus Ellis (Halliday Wine Companion)
95 points
"The palate focuses more on its powdery tannins and savoury dark herb line. Black fruit too. An excellent wine that makes use of the quality fruit and display of diverse sites."
- The Vintage Journal
| Size | 4 |
Varney Wines
Winemaker Alan Varney - McLaren Vale, SA Varney Wines
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